Those nabbed with marijuana may get slight break: keeping licenses

Legislation amending current rules on the loss of drivers’ licenses for those involved with marijuana possession has passed the state Senate and moved to the House of Delegates.

The bill, patroned by Sen. Adam Ebbin (D-30th), removes the automatic six-month suspension of a driver’s license for adults who are placed on “deferred disposition” on charges of simple possession of marijuana.

It passed the Senate, 38-2.

Juveniles would still be subject to mandatory license revocation, and the bill, if it passed the House of Delegates and were signed into law, would only take effect if the U.S. Department of Transportation provides Virginia with written assurance that federal funding would not be imperiled by the legislation.